Practical Wisdom for Parents : Demystifying the Preschool Years Book

Introduction     3
School
Choosing an Early Childhood Program     15
When to Start
Learning About Schools
What to Look For
The Application Process
Making Decisions
What Is Preschool? Orienting Yourself and Your Child     36
The Curriculum: What Children Learn at School
Home-School Communication: Speaking with Your Child's Teacher
How Parents Can Participate in School
Separation: Easing the Way     61
Before School Starts
Saying Good-bye: Feelings, Styles, Techniques
The Adjustment Period: When Problems Arise
Recommended Books
The Social Lives of Children     82
How Children Socialize
When Problems Arise
Playdates
Birthdays
Overscheduling: Afterschool Activities and the Importance of Downtime
Recommended Books
Understanding Your Child's Development: What to Look for and When to Intervene     105
Developmental Benchmarks: Physical, Language, Social, and Emotional
Problem Behaviors
When to Seek Professional Intervention: Working with Special Educators and Therapists
Recommended Books
The Transition to Kindergarten: Getting Ready     128
Choosing the Next School
How to Apply: School Visits, Interviews, Testing
Making Decisions
When Preschool Ends: Feelings and Closure
Home
Day-to-Day Family Life     155
Routines
Transition Times: Mornings and Evenings
Bedtime and Sleep Issues
Mealtimes
Manners
Recommended Books
The People in Your Child's Life     182
Setting Priorities in Family Life
You and Your Partner
Grandparents
Caregivers
New Babies
Siblings and Sibling Issues
Recommended Books
Discipline: Setting Limits, Saying No, and Accepting No     207
Why Is It So Hard?
How to Set Limits
Avoiding Conflicts
Discipline Tactics
Typical Problem Behaviors: Name-Calling, Bathroom Talk, Tantrums
When to Seek Professional Help
Recommended Books
Developing Morals and Ethics in Children     234
Guiding Your Child Toward Ethical Behavior
What Do Children Understand?
Lying, Stealing, and Cheating
Developing Empathy
Volunteering as a Family
Recommended Books
Self-Help Skills and Independence: "I Want to Do It Myself!"     248
Supporting Your Child's Growing Independence
Toilet Training
Blankets, Pacifiers, Bottles, and Sippy Cups
Washing, Dressing, Eating, and Drinking
Recommended Books
Play: Why, What, and How?     264
How Parents Can Support Play
Tips for Toy Shopping
Toys, Games, Materials, and Activities
How Children Play: Independent Play, Play with Others, Play with You
Play and Gender
Superhero Play
Screen Time: TV and Computers
Recommended Books
Talking About Difficult Topics     293
Transitions and New Experiences
Moving
Sex
Divorce
Illness: When You or Your Child Need to Go to the Hospital
Death
Recommended Books
Time Together: Weekends, Holidays, Traditions, and Vacations     315
Places to Visit and Things to Do
Holidays: Making Traditions and Finding Meaning
Family Vacations: Where to Go and What to Do
A Final Word: This Time Together Is Shorter Than You Think
Acknowledgments     329
Index     331